CORTLAND — There were maybe 800 fans braving the rain, some of them under umbrellas, some under green-and-white plastic fire helmets, some to catch the first glimpse of the new franchise quarterback, Mark Sanchez … a far cry from the 10,500-strong throng that nearly hyperventilated at Hofstra when Brett Favre came trotting out under a warm August sun to rescue the Eric Mangini Jets.

“A lotta hype; a lotta hype about Mr. Favre,” a young man named P.J. Merante said. “As we saw, he was Favre from good.”

Then Merante’s friend Justin Taylor, standing next to Merante, said, “He was afraid of being in New York.”

Merante, wearing a Mike Nugent jersey, played the part of Fireman Ed Anzalone atop a buddy’s shoulders that riotous day of Favre’s debut. His buddy didn’t make it this time, and Merante wore a No. 25 Kerry Rhodes jersey and that familiar fire helmet.

“I’m excited for Sanchez; I think everybody had a lot of great expectations last year that weren’t filled,” Merante said.

Favre wasn’t a Hall of Fame quarterback in December, and Sanchez is a long, long way from even dreaming about becoming one some day — hell, he’s second team behind Kellen Clemens for now.

But funny thing about franchise quarterbacks, young or old, rain or shine, 10,500 or only 800 — they are symbols of hope.

“I think once the light comes on mentally, the guy’s gonna be a real good quarterback,” said Ira (From Staten Island) Lieberfarb.

It was hardly a memorable beginning for Sanchez, in part because his head is swimming and he is being thrown to the wolves that are disguised as Jet defensive players, in part because of the wet conditions.

“I thought Sanchez had a really good day; he threw a couple of balls that coulda been picked. … Other than that, I thought he threw the comeback and deep out exceptionally well today,” standup comedian/head coach Rex Ryan said.

Sanchez overthrew David Clowney on one missile and forced several balls into coverage and got a break of sorts when Clemens had difficulties of his own. But all it took was one bomb down the left sideline for Chansi Stuckey, one bomb that hit Stuckey in stride past Lito Sheppard, to make the 4 a.m. trip from Hudson well worth it for Merante and his group, which included his father, Peter Sr.

“In Mark we trust, baby!” Merante roared. “Attababy, Sanchez!”

Sanchez’ other golden boy moment came when he rifled an out to Wallace Wright by the right sideline.

“Mark Money!” Merante bellowed, and the drowned rats applauded.

Asked about his beauty to Stuckey, Sanchez said, “It was a route adjustment, and he saw the adjustment a split second quicker than I did, and it was one of those things where I didn’t know exactly what he was gonna do. And as soon as I saw it, I just turned it loose and gave him a chance. … It was more of a great catch than a great throw so, that’s what happens when you have great receivers like that — just put it up and give ’em a chance,” Sanchez said.

Stuckey has been impressed.

“He’s a heady kid. He has a lot of swagger and confidence,” Stuckey said. “He’s one of those guys not afraid to make any throw.”

The bullets haven’t started flying yet. But at least Sanchez looks the part.

“He gets it,” Rhodes said. “He knows how to incorporate himself with players. … He knows how to handle the media. … He knows how to be a leader.”

Sanchez wasn’t particularly concerned over blitzing James Ihedigbo steaming in on him from the left side. “Those things happen. Obviously it’s Day 1, and we’ll get ’em fixed,” Sanchez said.

Clemens, behind the media scrum, made faces at Sanchez as he talked. Clemens is the Old Man all of a sudden.

And he’s trying not to be the Forgotten Man.

“Coach Ryan, I guess, has designated me as the starter going in, so my goal, my preparation, my thought and my concentration is I’m preparing myself and my teammates to get ready to make a serious run at a world championship,” Clemens said.